Haggis Ice Cream

Batches of this Scottish flavor get a bagpipe escort into the parlor.

Place of Origin

In Aberdeen, Scotland, “piping in” ice cream involves not a pastry bag, but a bagpipe. And the flavor in question is indisputably Scottish: haggis. The kilt-clad piper parades the haggis ice cream down the street, around the corner, and to the parlor where, for a brief time, it holds a place of honor in the refrigerated glass case.

Mackie’s of Scotland created their specialty, a haggis-laced custard with swirls of marmalade, in honor of Burns Day. The January 25 holiday celebrates the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who is most well-known writing the poem that became the classic New Year’s song Auld Lang Syne. Less well-known, however, might be Burns’s “Address to a Haggis.” As tribute, suppers during Burns Day include a reading of the poem and, of course, a main course of the sheep’s stomach stuffed with suet, oatmeal, and offal. Like the suppers, Mackie’s 2018 celebration featured a reading before the scooping began.

Nothing works off a belly full of haggis ice cream better than a little haggis hurling, so if in Scotland around Burns Day, be sure to check out all the haggis-filled diversions.

Need to Know

Look for haggis ice cream next Burns Day, January 25. Be sure to check for ice cream availability and scheduled honorary piping in advance.

Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of Gastro Obscura in your inbox.

Stay in Touch!

No purchase necessary. Winner will be selected at random on 10/01/2019. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Offer subject to change without notice. See contest rules for full details.

Add Some Wonder to Your Inbox

Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you.

We'd Like You to Like Us

We value your privacy

Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our privacy policy.